Gas-engine starter.



S. S. KRAYER. GAS ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION IILED JUNE 28, 1912.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

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S. S. KRAYER.

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Patented Aug. 26, 1913.-

STEPHEN S. KRAYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 26,1913.

Application filed June 28, 1912. Serial No. 706,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN S. KRAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Gas-Engine Starter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas engine starters and more particularly to a device for mixing a measured quantity of compressed air and a measured quantity of hydrocarbon liquid and injecting the resulting carbureted air directly into the several cylinders of an engine; which mixture is then exploded by the usual devices for that purpose effectively to start the operation of the engine.

A general object of the invention is to construct a compact, simple and durable device for the purpose mentioned which is adapted particularly for use in connection with engines for automobiles.

With these and other ends in view, I have designed, combined and arranged the several cotiperating parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device fully illustrating all the essential features thereof. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the device of the present invention, a part thereof being broken away disclosing the formation of the liquid containers. Fig. at is a transverse section taken substantially on the line at of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially 011 the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the valve plug, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the valve seat showing the passages therefrom to certain of the air chambers and liquid containers.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, A indicates a casing or housing which is provided with removable end plates B and C. The casing A is divided into four substantially quadrantal shaped chambers D at one end and into four corresponding chambers E arranged at the other end of the housing, by suitable longitudinal partition walls 1 and the circular transverse partition wall 2. A circular wall 3 extends axially from end to end of the casing A; said wall being enlarged at one end to form a conical chamber F, which constitutes a valve chamber between the several chambers D and E; and being tubular in formation at the opposite end thereof; which said tubular portion constitutes a bearing in which a shaft 4 is journaled. The inner end of the shaft 4 has a valve plug 5 attached thereto; while the outer end of said shaft extends through the plate B; the projecting end thereof being encircled by the spring 6, and threaded to receive the nut 7; which spring and nut coiiperate effectively to keep the valve plug 5 closely within its seat in the chamber F.

I consider it preferable to cast the casing A with the walls 1, 2 and 3 integral therewith and the peculiar formation illustrated, and described, has been especially designed with the view of providing a casing which may be readily cast in one piece. In determining the dimensions of the several chambers D and E it is desirable that the capacity of the chambers D should be substantially five or six times that of the chambers E. It will be readily apparent that the number of chambers may be increased if the number of cylinders of the engine require it, without substantial alteration; the device illustrated, being designed for a four cylinder engine.

The several chambers D are supplied with compressed air or other suitable fluid through a service pipe 8 which communicates with any suitable source of supply. The pipe 8 passes through the casing A and through the wall of the chamber F. A passage 9 through the valve plug 5 is arranged to register with the inner end of the pipe 8; said passage 9 being provided with a number of inwardly extending branches 10 which communicate with corresponding passages 11 leading to each of the air chambers D. The arrangement of the air supply just described is best illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing from which it will be seen that, when the valve plug 5 is in normal position, a direct communication between the pipe 8 and the several cylinders D is established. The oil inlet to the several chambers E comprises the pipe 12 which communicates with a source of hydrocarbon liquid supply, it being contemplated that the oil supply tank will be mounted above the casing A so as to cause the liquid to flow freely through the pipe 12, by gravity. The pipe 12 has threaded connection with a passage 13 formed in the wall or plate 2, the inner end of which passage enters the chamber F and is arranged to register with an oblique passage 14 through the valve plug 5 when the valve plug is in normal or open position. The passage 14 is provided with a series of branches 13 which extend radially through the valve plug, the outer ends of said pas sages being arranged to register with passages 16 one of which leads from the chamber F to each of the chambers E, respectively, so that each of the chambers E is in direct communication with the source of liquid sup )ly when the valve is in open po sition as shown most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawing. A second series of passages 17 through the wall of the chamber F constitute outlet ports from each of the chambers E for the liquid, which flows from the chambers E into and through oblique passages 18 in the valve plug 5 to a common passage 19 leading from the juncture of the passages 18 through the valve plug 5; said passages 19 being arranged to register with an outlet passage 20 formed in the wall 2. A suitable outlet pipe 21 arranged diametrically below the pipe 12, is threaded into the opening of the passage 20; which pipe may lead to the usual carbureter provided in ordinary gasolene engine construction.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the liquid and is distributed throughout the chambers E and from which it flows after the chambers have been filled and passes out through the pipe 21. It will also be apparent that when the valve plug is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, that is to say in normal or open position, each of the chambers D will be in constant communication with the source of air supply.

hen it is desired to cause the air contained in the several chambers D to pass through the liquid contained in the several chambers E, respectively, the valve plug 5 is rotated, by means of the handle or lever connection 22, one eighth of a turn, or forty five degrees. This operation closes both the air and liquid supplies as will be readily understood. Communication between the chambers D and the respective chambers E is established through a series of openings 23 in the wall of the chamber F and a series of triangular shaped passages 24c in the valve plug 5, one end of each of said passages 24 registering with the corresponding one of said openings 23 and the other end thereof registering with the corresponding one of said openings 17, when the valve plug has been brought to the position mentioned above, that is to say, when it has been rotated through an arc of forty live degrees from its normal or open position. The air thus introduced from the chambers D into enters through the pipe 16.

the chambers E becomes carbureted and is immediately forced out through the L- shaped passages 25 in the valve plug 5 through openings 26 in the cap or plate G into the pipes 27 each of which leads to a cylinder of an engine.

It is contemplated that the pressure in the several chambers D shall be suiiicient to inject the air, after it has been carbureted by the liquid in the containers E, into the cylinders under sutlicient pressure so as to start the operation of the engine when the gas is exploded.

From the foregoing description the operation of my device will be perfectly apparent and it will also be apparent that numerous changes in the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 1 do not limit myself, therefore, to exactfeatures shown and described, but

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a number of chambers arranged in a rectangular series adapted to receive a quantity of air under pressure, a number of containers also arranged in a rectangular series adapted to receive a quantity of liquid, an air passage in communication with each of said first-named chambers, a liquid service passage in communication with each of said liquid containers, a liquid outlet passage from each of said containers, intercommunicating passages between each air chamber and liquid container, respectively, and a valve for controlling all of said passages, operable effectively to cut off the liquid supply and the air supply; to open the passages between the air chambers and liquid containers, respectively, and to open the outlet pas sages from said liquid containers, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a cylindrical casing provided with a number of air chant bers, a number of liquid containers and a valve chamber therebetween, of a series of inlet passages from said valve chamber to said air chambers, a series of liquid inlet passages from said valve chamber to said liquid containers, a series of outlet passages from said liquid container to said valve chamber, an air inlet leading to said valve chamber, a liquid inlet leading to said valve chamber, a liquid outlet leading from said valve chamber, gas outlets leading from said liquid containers, and a valve plug opera tively mounted in said valve chamber arranged to establish communication between the air inlet passages, the liquid inlet pas sages, the liquid outlet passages, simultaneously, and to establish communication be tween said liquid containers and said air chambers and said gas outlet and said liquid containers, after the said valve plug has been operated to close the air supply and the liquid inlet and outlet passages, substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the character described, aseries of air chambers formed integral one with the other, a source of compressed air supply leading to each of said chambers, a series of liquid containers arranged to receive a quantity of liquid formed integral with said air chambers, liquid inlet passages leading to each of said containers, respectively, liquid outlet passages leading from said containers, respectively, passages from said air chambers to said liquid containers, in pairs, a gas outlet passage leading from each of said liquid containers and means for controlling all of said passages efiectively to close the air supply and liquid supply and to establish communication between said liquid containers and said air chambers and to open the outlet passages from the said liquid containers and vice versa, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a number of radial chambers arranged to re ceive air under pressure, and a number of radial containers arranged adjacent to said chambers said chambers being arranged to receive a supply of liquid, air inlet passages to said air chambers, passages between each air chamber and a liquid container gas outlet passages from said liquid containers, liquid inlet and outlet passages from said liquid containers, and a valve operable to control said passages, substantially as specified.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a cylindrical casing, alates forming closures for each end of said casing, a series of longitudinal radial partition walls dividing said easing into four longitudinal compartments, a partition wall dividing said compartments into two series of radial chambers, a valve chamber between said chambers, a passage arranged to communicate with certain of said chambers whereby air under pressure may be supplied thereto, a passage in communication with certain other of said chambers whereby liquid is supplied thereto, outlet passages leading from said last-named chambers, intercommunicating passages between certain of said chambers, outlet passages from certain of said chambers, and a valve controlling said passages, substantially as specified.

G. The combination with a series of air chambers, liquid container and a valve chamber arranged in an integral casting, a source of air supply, a source of liquid supply, a liquid outlet passage, gas outlet passages and a valve arranged in said valve chambers operable effectively to connect said air supply and said air inlet passages and said liquid supply and said liquid outlet, and also to communicate said air chambers and said liquid containers and said gas outlets after the air and liquid supply has been closed, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a casing provided with a series of air chambers, a series of liquid containers, and a valve chamber, of a series of inlet and outlet passages between said valve chamber to said air chambers, a series of inlet and outlet passages between said valve chamber and said liquid containers, a series of gas outlet passages from said liquid containers, a series of passages connecting said air chambers and liquid containers in pairs, a valve plug in said valve casing provided with a number of passages arranged first to communicate said inlet passages between said air chambers and said valve chamber with a source of air supply and to communicate said inlet and outlet passage between said liquid containers and said valve chambers with a source of liquid supply, and an outlet passage, respectively, when in one position, and to communicate said outlet passages from said air chambers with inlet passages to said liquid containers and said outlet passages from said liquid containers when in a different position, substantially as specified.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of series of chambers arranged to contain liquid formed in an integral casing, a series of liquid inlet and outlet passages one of which leads to each of said chambers respectively, a series 01"" gas outlet passages one of which leads from each of said chambers, respectively, and means for introducing compressed air into said chambers after the liquid inlet and outlet passages have been closed and the gas outlet passages opened, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing witnesses.

STEPHEN S. KRAYER.

Witnesses NnLsoN TnoMAs, L. C. KiNesLANI).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

